Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-07-06
NEW YORK LETTER. 4
SOME OF THE THINGS TALKED OF
IN THE METROPOLIS.
Fashions In Fireworks the Same b
Everything Else-Percentages Paid The
atrical Stars-A New Workers. Remin-
iscence OF Fist Fight-Other Matters.

atrical Stars-A New Workers Remin-
iscence OF Fist Fight-Other Matters.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, June "a.
ITO be sure there are fashions in fire.
works." a leading dealer here said the other
day. "This year the rage is for rockets,
shells, bombs and fine aerial work generally.
A great many new varieties in these things
have been brought out this season."
SIS the use of fireworks on the Fourth of
July declining or increasingly
increasing every year at very rapid
ratio. We count every year on an increase
of 40 to 60 per cent, but this year, after
making up our stock ON such basis, we had to
work overtime and increase our facilities as
much as possible for an increase Of fully so
per cent. on top Of the first increase"
what cities are preparing for great
demonstrations on the Fourth"
Buffalo, N. Y, seems to be fixing for the
biggest blow out Of all, but we have Just
started man for Portland, Ore, where he is
to attend to the firing of very fine display,
and dealers in almost all the smaller cities
are liberal buyers, whether to be used i'll
pub c displays or not we do not know"
us it your custom to send men out to do
your firing"
"Oh, yes; we have nearly 200 men ready
for that business this year. The other firms
probably have as many. We all use our fac
tory hands for looking after displays"
The specimen books Of these concerns are
teemng with fine exhibition pieces many Of
them costing 500, $50 and $3.50.
+*x
There are three dramatic exchanges in this
city where out OF town managers hire desk
room and book their attractions for the sea-
son. These places are thronged from the
middle Of May till late In August At one of
them western manager chatted with me
about various matters connected with the
profession" I asked him how the best stars
preferred to play-sureties or percentage.
"Of course" he replied, AL Of 'em would
like surety, but Booth is the only one l
know of who can command good surety i'll
variably. Booth gets 5000 to $500 per
night, and managers can make good money
in most towns even on that basis In Kansas
City last season l chance to know that the
box office took in $4,000 in three nights
What in heavens name he can be thinking Of
to hook up with Barrett can't see.
"Bernhardt plays on percentage, receiving
IS to 30 per cent of gross proceeds. Patti
takes 90 per cent. Modjeska gets rs TO SO per
cent. Fanny Davenport and Langtry about
the SAME. Ordinary attractions get from SO
to Is per ceutum.
"With many Of the best attractions MANY
managers don't expect to make any money.
Ii they can get out without losing ANYTHING
but the use Of their house, they are often salts
fed.
complimentary tickets are usually issued
as per mutual agreement of the local and
travelling manager Out west we don't have
the miserable feeling about the press that
seems to be prevalent in the east. We don't
regard newspaper people as deadheads. 1t is
we who are the sponges. If we paid for what
our newspapers do for us we'd 90 under
The meanest management on the road in that
respect rs that Of the Langtry party. The Lily
einks she gets 50 mu"h free advertising she
an dispense with free tickets to the press.
She won't do it in my house. 1 told her
manager so last season and told him my
doors would shut In his face unless our papers
we're given just as many tickets as they
wanted-just as many as we would give out
IN the poorest minstrel attraction"
49,
"Did you ever have a fist fight?' asked a
arge muscular gentleman of another in a
group at the Gilsey house the other night.
"No; why do you asks"
'"Oh, merely out of curiosity. I had two
one OF them only few years ago"
"Tell us about it." the group said in chorus,
and gathered about the speaker.
swell, it was this way: l was raised in
small interior town in Pennsylvania. When
about 10 years old big burly young man
named Cole got another boy and myself into
collision, made US fight in fact was getting
along swimmingly-had the other boy down
and was mauling him in fine shape, when
Cole deliberately pulled me Off, kicking me
severely, once in the face, while my alver-
sary escaped. OF course l could do nothing
with man who weighed over 200 pounds,
and had no big brother, but then and there
made VOW to high heaven that If / lived
would have satisfaction in kind for that
brutal kick In the face. l lost several teeth
from it, and for weeks my left cheek was as
large as your hat.
"My parents moved away from that sec
ton and knew nothing of events there for
several years. About seven years ago | had
occasion to go beck and renew the acauaint-
anceship begun in youth. One evening nj
the village singing school, which l had taken
in TO dispose Of idle time, recognized Jim
Cole-changed but little since the time Of his
assault on me-now not so much larger than
the man he had kicked as a boy. He had the
same slipshod, slouchy manner as of old; was
unkempt. unshaven and loafersh as of old.
but an imposing opponent He recognized
me, too, and lounged up and offered me his
hand, which l did not take.
"'Cole,' said, i have some business with
you. Please follow me around the corner OF
the house
"rhr fellow followed, wondering, no doubt.
rs to what wanted.
sVhen NJ v,rnpar ro. s-~...